Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao (C) stands on the scale during the official weigh-in event in Macau on November 23, 2013, one day ahead of his welterweight bout against Brandon Rios of the US. Filipino great Manny Pacquiao will need to shrug off the distractions of a deadly typhoon and a physical clash involving his trainer as he heads into a make-or-break comeback fight against Brandon Rios on November 24.DALE DE LA REY
/ AFP/Getty Images

Cesar Cayanong sits by his house with a scribbled message for Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, who is to fight Brandon Rios on Sunday in Macau, Thursday Nov. 21, 2013 in Tacloban city, Leyte province in central Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded, slammed into central Philippine provinces Nov. 8, leaving a wide swath of destruction.Bullit Marquez
/ AP

Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao (C) and Brandon Rios of the US (2nd R) pose after taking to the scale during the official weigh-in event in Macau on November 23, 2013, one day ahead of their welterweight bout. Filipino great Manny Pacquiao will need to shrug off the distractions of a deadly typhoon and a physical clash involving his trainer as he heads into a make-or-break comeback fight against Brandon Rios on November 24.DALE DE LA REY
/ AFP/Getty Images

A picture wishing Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao victory in his next fight against Brandon Rios is displayed outside a damaged house in Tacloban after Typhoon Haiyan hit the east coast of the Philippines, on November 21, 2013. The Philippines has received loan pledges totalling one billion dollars to help rebuild areas ravaged by super Typhoon Haiyan, after the World Bank matched an Asian Development Bank offer.MARK RALSTON
/ AFP/Getty Images

Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao (C) stands on the scale during the official weigh-in event in Macau on November 23, 2013, one day ahead of his welterweight bout against Brandon Rios of the US. Filipino great Manny Pacquiao will need to shrug off the distractions of a deadly typhoon and a physical clash involving his trainer as he heads into a make-or-break comeback fight against Brandon Rios on November 24.DALE DE LA REY
/ AFP/Getty Images

Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao (front centre L) and Brandon Rios of the US face-off after taking to the scale during the official weigh-in event in Macau on November 23, 2013, one day ahead of their welterweight bout. Filipino great Manny Pacquiao will need to shrug off the distractions of a deadly typhoon and a physical clash involving his trainer as he heads into a make-or-break comeback fight against Brandon Rios on November 24.DALE DE LA REY
/ AFP/Getty Images

A picture wishing Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao victory in his next fight against Brandon Rios is displayed outside a damaged house in Tacloban after Typhoon Haiyan hit the east coast of the Philippines, on November 21, 2013. The Philippines has received loan pledges totalling one billion dollars to help rebuild areas ravaged by super Typhoon Haiyan, after the World Bank matched an Asian Development Bank offer.MARK RALSTON
/ AFP/Getty Images

Brandon Rios of the US (L) stands on the scale during the official weigh-in event in Macau on November 23, 2013, one day ahead of his welterweight bout against Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao. Filipino great Manny Pacquiao will need to shrug off the distractions of a deadly typhoon and a physical clash involving his trainer as he heads into a make-or-break comeback fight against Brandon Rios on November 24.DALE DE LA REY
/ AFP/Getty Images

Brandon Rios of the United States poses for photos during the weigh-in for his welterweight fight against Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao at the Venetian Macao in Macau Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013. Pacquiao and Rios are scheduled to fight in their welterweight boxing match at the casino on Nov. 24.Vincent Yu
/ AP

Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao poses for photos during the weigh-in for his welterweight boxing fight against Brandon Rios of the United States at the Venetian Macao in Macau Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013. Pacquiao and Rios are scheduled to fight in their welterweight match at the casino on Nov. 24.Vincent Yu
/ AP

Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao (C) stands on the scale during the official weigh-in event in Macau on November 23, 2013, one day ahead of his welterweight bout against Brandon Rios of the US. Filipino great Manny Pacquiao will need to shrug off the distractions of a deadly typhoon and a physical clash involving his trainer as he heads into a make-or-break comeback fight against Brandon Rios on November 24.DALE DE LA REY
/ AFP/Getty Images

TACLOBAN, Philippines — Hoping to lift the spirits of thousands of people left homeless by Typhoon Haiyan, cable operators on Saturday set up TV screens inside a sports stadium, near a church and in other landmarks in the devastated region to broadcast Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao’s comeback fight.

Officials said that rooting for Pacquaio in Tacloban and other places ravaged by the typhoon two weeks ago would help inspire survivors as they struggle to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of the destruction that killed more than 5,000 people.

Cable inspector Allan Larano said he and other technicians from the country’s largest cable provider, Sky Cable, were setting up a screen at the Tacloban stadium, around which displaced people have taken shelter in tents and inside ground-floor shops.

Much hope in the Philippines is pinned on Pacquiao, who is returning to the ring to fight Brandon Rios in Macau on Sunday. It will be his first fight since his knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez last year, following a defeat by decision to Timothy Bradley.

Boxing analyst Ronnie Nathanielz said that Pacquiao has always dedicated his fights to the Philippines, but that Sunday’s bout “takes on a special significance because of the devastation.”

“His impressive performance will lift the spirit of the people, no matter what,” Nathanielz said.

Civil defence chief Eduardo del Rosario said that win or lose, Pacquiao’s performance is “a very, very welcome opportunity for us to relax and unite as a people.”

“At least we will see the Filipino spirit fighting for our country,” he said.

Dioscoro Balano said he hoped to be able to watch the fight with a neighbour who has a generator.

“If he wins, it will be a big boost to the morale of the typhoon victims,” Balano said.

Army Cpl. Joseph Reyes looked forward to Pacquiao’s donating some of his winnings to typhoon victims. Reyes is stationed at the seaside Tacloban airport, whose terminal was among the buildings severely damaged by walls of water.

Larano, the cable inspector, said two other cable television teams were preparing smaller TV screens near a church and the Leyte provincial capitol.

Philippine broadcaster GMA television also will install large screens at the Tacloban city hall and at a park, said network Vice-President Rikki Escudero.

“We are very excited that at least we are able to provide that service to the people,” Escudero said.

Fierce winds and tsunami-like storm surges from the typhoon turned much of Tacloban into a mass of debris. At least 1,700 people were killed in Tacloban, one of the most devastated cities.

Tacloban is still in ruins and without electricity, though some areas have received running water and shops and gas stations have started reopening.

Pacquiao, one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, is the wealthiest member of the Philippine Congress. He represents his southern home province of Sarangani, where his wife, Jinkee, is vice governor. His province was not affected by the typhoon.

Pacquiao has promised to bring aid during a visit to the disaster sites after the fight.

Associated Press writers Oliver Teves in Manila and Teresa Cerojano in Tacloban contributed to this report.

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